Objective: In this brief project, you are to produce 12 measures of music that follow the standard 12-bar blues chord progression. This project is also designed to give you more experience with REAL-TIME recording.
Procedure: We'll keep this project fairly flexible, so you can write anyway (style, tempo, key, instrumentation, even things like length) within a loose framework. However, you must REAL-TIME record at least one track of the project. Your piece must have these elements:
1. Use the 12-BAR BLUES PROGRESSION, or some variation. Here is the 12-Bar Blues in E (a good guitar key); and here is the 12-Bar Blues in C (a good piano key). The "typical" BLUES PROGRESSION in the key of C is:
C7
C7
C7
C7
F7
F7
C7
C7
G7
F7
C7
C7
You are welcome to use any variations of this progression, including:
Using triads rather than 7th chords (i.e. C-F-G)
Adding a "turn-around" G7 chord in measure 12
Adding these "jazzy" substitutions: A7 in m. 8, Dmin7 in m. 9, and G7 in m. 10
Any other variations you choose
2. Include at least TWO TRACKS of LOOPED PERCUSSION:
PERCUSSION 1: This is the time-keeper for your 12-bar blues. You may use MIDI (green) or AUDIO (blue) loops. When using LOOPS, drag the loop from the Loop Browser into the Track Window; GarageBand will create an appropriate drum track for the loop. Then replicate the loop as desired. If you don't use this loop for all 12 bars, add a 2nd, or 3rd, etc.) to fill up all 12 bars with percussion.
PERCUSSION 2: This 2nd Percussion Track should compliment your first Percussion Track. Perhaps you will use conga drums, or bongos, or some other world percussion, or maybe a triangle loop, etc., etc. Really there are hundreds of choices that can enhance and liven up your drum parts. If you like, you may play in your own Perc. 2 drum part (setup a Drum Kit and real-time record).
3. Create at least TWO OTHER TRACKS, as follows:
BASS: Once you've created your PERCUSSION TRACKS, now you're ready to real-time record your bass part. The bass part contains the "roots" of the chords of the 12-bar blues (i.e. for a C chord, a C or for an F chord, and F, etc.). Your bass part could be ONLY the roots, but it could also employ a bass pattern of some sort. Set the METRONOME and COUNT IN (Control Menu); be sure the playhead is at measure 1 (rewind); then hit the RECORD button and play in your bass part. Ask your teacher to help you find the notes if you're having trouble, and for rhythmic suggestions to make your part interesting. Here's an example of a "walking bass." Here's an example of a "rhythmic bass."
CHORD ACCOMPANIMENT: This is often called the 'COMPING part, and could be a piano, a rhythm guitar, or something else. The idea is that this part fills out the chords above the bass line. You could play in the 'COMPING part on a keyboard snyth, or you could choose LOOPS that have chordal content (piano loops, guitar loops, etc.). You could also record a REAL instrument, such as a guitar strumming, if you like.*
4. OPTIONAL: If time, you may setup an extra instrument track (SOFTWARE or REAL) and record a melody to go with the 12-bar blues progression you've produced. You could also record an improvisation in this extra track instead. Perhaps you will play your improvisation on a synth keyboard. If you play a REAL instrument (i.e. guitar, sax, trumpet, etc.), consider performing/recording your improvisation using a microphone or an audio interface. IF YOU STILL HAVE TIME, copy and paste your 12-bar blues progression into measures 13-24, creating a "2nd Chorus." Record an improvisation over this 2nd Chorus as well.
5. You will be awarded credit for this project according to the following grid:
ELEMENT
DESCRIPTION
POSSIBLE POINTS
POINTS EARNED?
Perc. 1 Track
12 bars of loops created.
[0-5]
Perc. 2 Track
Complimentary percussion added.
[0-5]
Bass Track
Bass part recorded in "real-time."
[0-10]
'Comping Track/
Chord Proression
Chordal accompaniment recorded by any method chosen by student.
[0-10]
MIDI Track/External Instrument
One track of MIDI data routed to an external synth like the Korg X5D
[0-10]
MIDI Track/Software Instrument
One track of MIDI data routed to a software instrument
[0-10]
Timing
Real-Time Recording is rhythmically tight,
locked into the percussion part.
[0-10]
TOTAL POINTS
[0-60]
*When using GarageBand: If you use LOOPS, shift the PITCH setting (Edit Window) to transpose the IV and V chords. The IV chord will be +5 or -7. The V chord will be +7 or -5. "+7" means 7 semitones (half steps) higher. For instance, the F chord is 5 semitones higher than the C chord (i.e. C#, D, D#, E, F). Your teacher will help you with this if needed.
SMALL PROJECT, 12-Bar Blues [HOME]
Objective: In this brief project, you are to produce 12 measures of music that follow the standard 12-bar blues chord progression. This project is also designed to give you more experience with REAL-TIME recording.
Procedure: We'll keep this project fairly flexible, so you can write anyway (style, tempo, key, instrumentation, even things like length) within a loose framework. However, you must REAL-TIME record at least one track of the project. Your piece must have these elements:
1. Use the 12-BAR BLUES PROGRESSION, or some variation. Here is the 12-Bar Blues in E (a good guitar key); and here is the 12-Bar Blues in C (a good piano key). The "typical" BLUES PROGRESSION in the key of C is:
2. Include at least TWO TRACKS of LOOPED PERCUSSION:
3. Create at least TWO OTHER TRACKS, as follows:
4. OPTIONAL: If time, you may setup an extra instrument track (SOFTWARE or REAL) and record a melody to go with the 12-bar blues progression you've produced. You could also record an improvisation in this extra track instead. Perhaps you will play your improvisation on a synth keyboard. If you play a REAL instrument (i.e. guitar, sax, trumpet, etc.), consider performing/recording your improvisation using a microphone or an audio interface. IF YOU STILL HAVE TIME, copy and paste your 12-bar blues progression into measures 13-24, creating a "2nd Chorus." Record an improvisation over this 2nd Chorus as well.
5. You will be awarded credit for this project according to the following grid:
Chord Proression
locked into the percussion part.
*When using GarageBand: If you use LOOPS, shift the PITCH setting (Edit Window) to transpose the IV and V chords. The IV chord will be +5 or -7. The V chord will be +7 or -5. "+7" means 7 semitones (half steps) higher. For instance, the F chord is 5 semitones higher than the C chord (i.e. C#, D, D#, E, F). Your teacher will help you with this if needed.